"W-wait…"
Gaia seemed confused by everything that was said.
"Guardian Kim ShiHoon, can you confirm that what you've just said is true?"
"Yes."
Kim ShiHoon nodded without hesitation. Gaia took a deep breath at his answer.
"You said that Satan looked like a human, right?"
"To be more precise, it was just the outline of his body. A black curtain surrounded him, so I couldn't see it exactly."
"I see."
Gaia nodded.
"First, I understood what guardian Kim ShiHoon is saying. Taking into consideration that guardian Alec was being targeted by the Demon Cult, I think there's a high chance that Satan was already in the Demon Cult."
"That means that, in the end, the ultimate enemy is the Demon Cult," KangWoo said.
The Demon Cult… They’d existed for more than a thousand years and believed in demons. They were evil beings that had accepted that strength.
'They're guys that seem like they would get involved with the Demon of Prophecy.'
He nodded. It kind of sounded obvious that Satan, the Demon of Prophecy, someone who was trying to bring destruction to the world, would join forces with them.
Gaia made a dark expression.
"I guess so. Ahh. If he has already entered the Demon Cult, the situation has worsened."
"Even three months ago, Satan was able to overwhelm Mr. Alec easily. If that was his weakened state… once he recovers all of his previous strength, things could get horrible."
There was a grim atmosphere in the room.
KangWoo turned his head toward Gaia.
"So, even in this situation, are you going to accept only a Guardian as a member?"
"…"
She remained silent. It didn't take long for her to make a decision.
Gaia turned her head around Grace.
"Grace, bring ‘that’ out. Please."
"Okay."
Grace brought out two boxes.
As she opened one of the boxes, a white mask and a crystal ball that was the size of a ping pong ball were revealed.
Gaia touched the table and placed the mask on the table.
There was a blue shield engraved on the mask.
"There are many cases in which Guardians have to act secretly, so while doing a mission, everyone must wear a mask. Hmm, to put it bluntly, you could say that this mask represents Guardians."
"Ah…"
"First, Guardian Kim ShiHoon, can you help us protect the world and help us eliminate the Demon of Prophecy?"
"Of course."
Kim ShiHoon nodded with an intense look in his eyes.
Gaia smiled. She gave the mask in her hands to Kim ShiHoon.
"I welcome you to the Guardians."
"Thank you…"
Kim ShiHoon accepted the mask while making a complex expression. He took the mask and placed it over his face.
"Ah."
"Fufu. It isn't just a mask with a plane design, right?"
It seemed like there was a special effect on the mask. A short exclamation came out of his mouth.
After the mask, she gave him the transparent crystal ball that was the size of a small ping-pong ball.
"This is a communication device that's given to Guardians members. You can communicate even if you're inside a gate or on the other side of the world, and if you put it on the floor, you can open a gate that leads to here, 'The Hall of Protection.'"
"But what if someone takes it…?"
You could open a gate that led to the base from anywhere…
It was an item that could cause a catastrophe if an enemy got their hands on it.
Gaia lightly laughed at Kim ShiHoon's worried voice.
"Just like a legendary item, it's locked to the holder, so you don't need to be worried."
"Ah, I see."
Kim ShiHoon nodded. On the other hand, KangWoo had a complex expression.
'They aren't considering that there might be a traitor among them?'
Even if it was an item locked to its owner, if the holder betrayed them, things could worsen instantly.
From KangWoo's point of view, it was a comfortable item.
'Well, that's better for me.'
They probably weren't giving out such an important item because they were dumb.
The mask and the crystal ball were symbols of trust—that's how much Gaia trusted in each member.
Considering that there were two boxes, that probably meant that she was willing to accept him as a member of Guardians.
If the trust became deeper, KangWoo would probably be able to hide the fact that he was, in reality, the 'Demon of Prophecy' even better.
"Next…"
She turned to face KangWoo, holding a second mask in her hands.
"Mr. KangWoo…"
"Yes."
* * *
She extended the mask to him.
"You're right. In this situation, it doesn't make sense for us to only accept a Guardian as a member, but it isn't that I'm willing to accept you as a member because we are in a hurry."
Her voice was hot. KangWoo remained silent.
"How you feel toward guardian Kim ShiHoon, and how angry you became when you realized that Satan targeted Kim ShiHoon were the two decisive reasons."
"ShiHoon is like a little brother to me. Was he called Demon of Prophecy? I'm not sure what his name is, but I cannot stay still after realizing that he tried to kill ShiHoon."
His eyes were burning with passion, and his voice was strong.
Considering that they were non-blood-related brothers, it felt a bit too much, but its effect was impressive.
"H-hyeongnim…"
"Fufu. You have a really good person as a non-blood-related brother. To be honest, when I first heard about you through Guardian Kim ShiHoon, I wondered if he didn't trust you too much, but I was worried for nothing."
KangWoo felt inwardly elated.
'Satan, thank you!'
If Satan heard the news, he would shake his head, saying ‘this isn't it’.
But from KangWoo's point of view, everything was flowing in a great direction.
"Mr. KangWoo, even though you're not a Guardian, I believe you're worthy of being called that based on your strong sense of justice."
'Yes, yes.'
"Then, Mr. KangWoo, can you help us to protect the world and eliminate the Demon of Prophecy?"
"Of course."
He nodded without hesitation. After hearing he could join the Guardians, he somehow felt a strong sense of justice.
'Yes. There aren't many people that are more correct, just, and clean as me.'
He nodded at Gaia's choice.
"I welcome you to the Guardians."
He received the mask—a mask that had a blue shield engraved in it.
He put it on.
Ting-
[You've become a member of Guardians.]
[The effect of 'Gaia's Blessing' is activating. The blessing has a greater effect on players chosen as a 'Guardian.']
[You aren't a 'Guardian' player. The effect of the blessing is decreasing.]
[All of your stats have increased by 1.]
WHOOM-!
"Huh?!"
"This…"
The Hall of Protection shook.
Gaia's Blessing was a strong buff, but KangWoo wasn't a Guardian, so he didn't benefit much from it.
But…
'It increases all stats by 1, huh…'
A smile appeared on his face.
For other players, a single point to all stats was probably nothing…
But from KangWoo's point of view, it wasn't 'just' a single point to every stat.
His Demonic Energy stat was so high that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it had reached the limit of what a player could achieve.
So for him, the difference of a single stat point was huge.
'Look at this Demonic Energy!'
As his stat increased, an explosive amount of demonic energy was created.
He would've probably been found out if it weren't for the Ruler of Demonic Energy attribute.
If he melted the demonic energy into his blood using the Celestial Dragon's Psyche Style, he would be able to perfectly use it as his own strength.
'I think that I could now face Doomguard.'
The one that protects doom, Doomguard…
He was the leader of the 3rd Squadron of the Demon King's army and was a 'Great Demon.'
He wasn't as strong as Balrog or Lilith since they were at the level of an archduke, but he was strong enough to defeat hundreds of demons at once.
'This was an unexpected gain.'
He almost felt proud of becoming a member of Guardians.
"I hope we get along from now on."
After receiving the communication crystal, KangWoo grabbed Gaia's hands.
"Ah, yes. I also hope we get along."
Gaia was surprised by the explosive energy only for a short while. She soon made a bright smile.
"If you have information about the Demon Cult, please tell me immediately."
"Yes. I'll give you more details about the mission through the communication crystal later. Ah, also, feel free to visit the Hall of Protection any time you want. It's lonely being here alone."
Gaia waved her hand. Her arms were so thin that it seemed like they would break if you weren't careful.
Kim ShiHoon's eyes sank.
"Yes. I'll be waiting."
He turned and opened the door. After they left the gate, they were greeted by familiar scenery.
It was the rooftop of the apartment where KangWoo lived.
"Hyeongnim, thank you…"
"It was nothing."
'The one who's thankful is me.'
KangWoo smiled and patted Kim ShiHoon's shoulders. Kim ShiHoon's eyes were wet as if he were moved.
"Hyeongnim…"
"Hmm?"
Kim ShiHoon raised his head and looked at the sky.
'This bastard is too handsome.'
Just him looking up at the sky made it look like it was a photoshoot.
"Today… I think that I've gotten a new goal."
"New goal?"
"Yes."
Kim ShiHoon nodded while making a serious expression.
"I fell in love with someone."
'What kind of bullshit is this now?'
KangWoo looked confused. Why was he suddenly talking about love?
"Don't tell me…"
"I was sure of it from the first time I saw her. It's my destiny to protect her."
"…"
He turned and leaned against the parapet.
"I can't forget her frail body."
Kim ShiHoon clenched his fist.
"And…"
A strong energy and deep killing intent rose from inside him.
"I'm going to kill Satan, who made her become like that."
"…"
"You've seen her too, right, Hyeongnim? She couldn't even properly walk or see."
'ShiHoon…'
"That's all because Satan came to Earth. He ruined the Gaia System and killed a Guardian."
'Wait a bit, ShiHoon.'
"That angers me so much. It’s the first time I’ve felt something like this."
'Why are you doing this?'
"I want to protect her."
KangWoo could see Kim ShiHoon's eyes burning with motivation.
On the other hand, KangWoo was starting to feel guilty.
"I want to protect her and make her smile."
'I understood, so stop, you bastard.'
"Hyeongnim…"
'I didn't know things would turn out like this.'
"Thank you for helping me."
'No, but… It would be unfair if I stayed longer, rotting in Hell, right? I stayed there for 10 thousand years. For how long do you think I should've stayed there?'
"If it weren't for Hyeongnim, I wouldn't feel so confident."
'Do you know Lilith? Huh? Do you know her? Any person would go crazy if forced to stay with her for over a thousand years!'
Kim ShiHoon scratched his head while smiling awkwardly.
"Haha. It's kind of embarrassing to say it like this with my own mouth, but I became sure of it thanks to you staying by my side."
"…"
KangWoo lowered his head.
'ShiHoon, I'm sorry.'
KangWoo's hands and feet trembled from guilt.
Kim ShiHoon extended his hand.
"Hyeongnim, let's kill the Demon of Prophecy and protect this world together."
"…"
There was silence. KangWoo's expression seemed troubled, but that was only for a brief moment.
KangWoo grabbed Kim ShiHoon's hand.
"Let's do it."
'I don't care anymore.'
He put more strength in the palm of his hand.
"Let's protect this world from Satan."
The Demon of Prophecy, Satan…
That evil being didn't have enough with ruling the Hell of Nine Skies and had appeared on Earth to take control of it, too.
He messed up with the Gaia System and was trying to put Earth under his control.
'I cannot let him do as he wishes.'
He began feeling anger.
‘How dare he make the first woman Kim ShiHoon fell in love with become like that.’
To him, Kim ShiHoon was someone with whom he shared a relationship thicker than blood. Their souls were connected, so he couldn't stay still.
'I will never forgive you.'
‘…In the name of justice!’
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